Cheryl Galvin

Our school district uses Naviance to support career exploration and planning, while counselors meet one-on-one with students to discuss scheduling options and align courses with their career goals. We also provide presentations that outline scheduling choices and highlight CTE program opportunities so students and their parents can make informed decisions about their pathways.

One challenge of incorporating social-emotional learning is finding consistent time within an already demanding academic schedule, as well as ensuring staff feel adequately trained and confident to deliver SEL instruction. Another challenge is gaining full buy-in from all stakeholders, including students and teachers, who may not immediately see the connection between SEL and academic success.

In our high school, social-emotional learning principles are present in advisory periods where students engage in lessons on self-awareness, goal setting, and relationship skills. They are also evident in restorative practices and peer mediation programs that help students build empathy, manage conflict, and take responsibility for their actions.

Social-emotional learning is the process of developing self-awareness, emotional regulation, empathy, and interpersonal skills that help students succeed both academically and personally. As a school counselor, I define SEL as intentionally teaching and modeling the skills students need to understand themselves, build healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions in everyday life.